GJCA Competitions and Live Animal Programs
The Georgia Junior Cattlemen's Association, in conjunction with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, provides hands-on educational opportunities exclusive to GJCA members to help improve their knowledge of cattle health and well being, agriculture economics, and best management practices, all while developing strong verbal and written communication skills. Check out the information below to read more on this year's GJCA contests and live animal programs!
Junior Herd Builder Program
The Junior Herd Builder Program gives young cattlemen and women in grades 8-12 the opportunity to develop a pen of three heifers for the purpose of future production or sale.
Participants will promote animal and environmental stewardship and enhance their leadership, decision-making, and management skills. Participants will be responsible for securing heifers of similar age and genetics to develop through the beef production cycle, utilizing the UGA Extension Beef Management Calendar as a guide. Please view and complete the forms below.
Registration Deadline: November 4, 2026
Contact Dylan Davis, dylan.davis@uga.edu, or Sarah Williams, swilliams@gabeef.org, for more information.
Program Timeline
- November 4, 2026: Registration
- November 6, 2026: Orientation
- December 11, 2026: Online Module Completion
- December 18, 2026: Live Animal Declaration
- June 25, 2027: Record Book Submission
- July 2, 2027: Herd Evaluation and Awards
GJCA Convention Contest & Activities
More details for the 2027 Convention coming in late 2026.
Top Hand Stockmanship & Stewardship Contest
The Top Hand Contest is a hands-on program that showcases student's abilities to safely and efficiently process cattle. GJCA members can demonstrate safe cattle handling protocols while also enhancing their understanding of important stockmanship and stewardship practices. The contest tests participants' knowledge on production areas related to quality assurance records, vaccine administration, chute operation, tagging, TSU sampling, implanting, and more! Regional contests are open to 8th-12th grade GJCA members and held in Athens, Summerville, Carrollton, and Tifton each year. The top 2 teams from each region advance to the state competition for a chance to compete in Georgia's Top Hand championship!